Media personality Robert Ekpo has rejected the cease-and-desist notice issued by his estranged wife, On-Air Personality Mayowa Lambe, describing her N100 million damages demand as excessive, unfounded and premature.

Ekpo, through his lawyers at TAP Legal Services, posted his response on his official Instagram handle on Thursday, a day after Lambe’s legal team published the original notice demanding he retract claims he made about her on The Honest Bunch podcast.

The letter, dated April 23 and signed by M. M. Obonb was addressed to Chinedu Nwaneri of Aunt Landa’s Bethel Foundation.

The letter also bore what appeared to be a Nigerian Bar Association stamp.

It acknowledged receipt of the original notice but said their client “categorically denies the allegations as presented” and “takes strong exception to the characterisation of his statements as false, malicious, or defamatory.”

The letter read, “Any statements made by him, whether privately or on public platforms, were based on his personal experiences, understanding of events, and matters he reasonably believes to be true. At no time did he act with malice or with the intent to injure your client’s reputation.”

It further read, “The issues referenced arise from a complex interpersonal relationship, the facts of which cannot be selectively presented to construct a misleading narrative against our client.”

On the N100 million damages demand, the letter read, “Your demands, particularly the request for ₦100,000,000.00 in damages, are viewed as excessive, unfounded, and premature.”

It added that the ultimatum imposed by Lambe’s legal team was “unreasonable and inconsistent with established legal practice, especially in a matter of this nature involving disputed facts.”

Ekpo’s lawyers also disclosed that their client possessed “documentary and testimonial evidence that directly contradicts several assertions” in Lambe’s notice, including communications, records of interactions and other materials which they said would be presented “at the appropriate time and forum.”

The response put Lambe’s camp on notice of a possible counter-suit.

The letter read, “Should your client proceed with legal action, our client will robustly defend the suit and reserve the right to file appropriate counterclaims, including, but not limited to, claims for harassment, intimidation, and reputational harm arising from false or exaggerated accusations.”

In a particularly pointed addition, the letter stated that Lambe’s notice contained “an admission of some of our client’s claims,” and that Ekpo reserved the right to tender it in evidence in a petition to United States authorities, specifically naming the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.”

The letter also read, “While our client remains open to lawful and structured resolution mechanisms, he will not be coerced into admissions or concessions under threat. Kindly govern yourselves accordingly.”

The exchange follows Ekpo’s appearance on a released episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, where he alleged that Lambe secretly used contraceptives during their marriage, deceived him about a medical trip to Miami and left him financially drained over several years while she lived abroad.

He also alleged that she shared an apartment with a male flatmate who was intimate with her, and that he discovered she had remarried another man in Texas, United States, after 11 years together.

Lambe’s legal team, through Aunt Landa’s Bethel Foundation, denied that any marriage was still subsisting at the time of the podcast, stating that the traditional union had been mutually dissolved with family consent before May 11, 2025.

The foundation also claimed Lambe possessed verifiable evidence contradicting Ekpo’s allegations, including financial records, medical documents and communications.

The dispute continued to generate widespread reactions on social media as of Thursday, with both legal notices now in the public domain. (PUNCH)

Update news